On Monday, 12th May, Zilah Skerritt and Anja Levanaj from Esharelife were honoured to attend the Alder Hey Hospital, Put Children First event at the Houses of Parliament, hosted by Kim Johnson, the MP for Liverpool Riverside. The gathering focused on placing children at the centre of the upcoming 10-Year Health Plan, ahead of the new Child Poverty Strategy.
We were especially moved by the Ignite the Sparks campaign film, created by and with children and young people, which powerfully shared their voices and visions for future policymaking. It was a clear and inspiring call to action.
In the children’s own words: “Young people should not be cast aside. They need a place where they can be happy and creative and do what they love… If we put children first we can unlock their true potential.”
The event featured impactful speeches from Fiona Ashcroft (CEO, Alder Hey Children’s Charity), Iain Hennessey (clinician at Alder Hey), and closing remarks from Kim Johnson and Ian Byrne MP, who represents the Alder Hey constituency.
We were also delighted to meet and have an insightful conversation with Jennifer Graham (Philanthropy Manager at Alder Hey) whose dedication and vision further highlighted the crucial role of community support in advancing children’s health and wellbeing.
Esharelife is proud to stand with Alder Hey in championing a future where children’s voices lead the way in shaping the decisions that affect them. We look forward to continuing to support and empower those who shape tomorrow’s leaders.
As Ian Byrne stated: “We are creating a future for the children who have been left behind.”